At least 39 people lost their lives and dozens were injured following the derailment of two high-speed trains in the municipality of Adamuz, near Cordoba, in southern Spain, according to the Andalusia Emergency Service. The Health Minister of the regional government of Andalusia, Antonio Sanz, told local media that the situation remains particularly complex and did not rule out the possibility of an increase in the number of casualties. Among the dead, as reported by the newspaper El Pais, is the 27-year-old driver of the Renfe train that had departed from Madrid and was heading to Huelva. Meanwhile, at least 152 are the injured who are hospitalized in six different hospitals in the region, many of whom are in serious or very serious condition. 11 adults and one child are being treated in intensive care units. It is noted that the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, is traveling to the scene of the tragedy.
The collision
The accident occurred when a high-speed train, operating the Malaga - Madrid route, derailed while entering the Adamuz station and crossed onto the adjacent track, where another train was moving in the direction from Madrid to Huelva. The collision caused the derailment of the second train as well, as announced by the railway infrastructure manager Adif. Specifically, a high-speed train of the private company Iryo derailed and crashed into another train of the state-owned Spanish company Renfe on Sunday 1/18 at approximately 19:45 (local time, 20:45 Greek time) in southern Spain, near Adamuz, in the province of Cordoba, about 360 kilometers south of Madrid. The impact was so violent that, according to the Spanish Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, the first two carriages of the second train "were launched off the rails."
The first train that derailed, Iryo 6189, carried approximately 300 passengers, according to a statement from the company. Iryo expressed its deep regret over the incident, emphasizing that all emergency protocols were immediately activated and that it is in close cooperation with the competent authorities. The Renfe train was moving at a speed of approximately 200 kilometers per hour at the time of the collision, while the speed of the train that derailed has not yet been announced. In total, about 400 people were on board the two trains, mostly Spaniards. It is noted that the company Iryo is private, with its largest stake belonging to the state-owned Italian company Ferrovie dello Stato. In its statement, the company said it deeply regrets the event and added that it has activated emergency protocols to cooperate closely with the authorities. For its part, Renfe stated that the derailment of its train was due to the impact of the Iryo train on it, while emergency services continue to extricate passengers. The state-owned Spanish company added that its president is traveling to the site of the tragedy and that it is working to support the passengers and their families.
Video from the scene of the accident posted on social media shows rescuers extricating passengers from the damaged carriages, while some managed to get out on their own through broken windows.
??⚡️ At least 21 people have been ki!!ed in a train derailment in Andalusia, Spain, with emergency services saying more than 100 others are seriously injured.
— Osint World (@OsiOsint1) January 18, 2026
➡️ The crash happened around 7:40 p.m. local time, when a train carrying 317 passengers from Málaga to Madrid derailed. pic.twitter.com/oqUNHN6bhN
Puente (Spanish Minister of Transport): Death toll at 39, number is not final
The collision was so violent that, according to the Spanish Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, the first two carriages of the second train "were launched off the rails." As he stated to reporters during a press conference from the Atocha station in Madrid, the causes of the collision have not been made known, noting that it is "very strange," while questioning "how is it possible for an event of such force to happen on a straight line, on a section of the railway tracks that has been renovated, with an almost brand-new train?". "All railway experts (...) are particularly surprised by this accident because it is very rare and difficult to explain at this stage," he said, adding that a competent committee will examine what happened. He clarified that most of the dead and injured were in the first two carriages of the Renfe company train, which the other derailed train fell upon. 37 people were in the first carriage and 16 in the second, he added.
Condolences from Sánchez and the royal family
The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, describing the country as "plunged into a night of deep pain." As he noted, "no words can soothe the immense pain," while simultaneously announcing that he is canceling all his obligations in order to be able to monitor the rescue operations. Meanwhile, he is traveling to the site of the tragedy.
Condolence messages were also sent by the Spanish royal family, stating that it is monitoring developments with "great concern."
Suspension of services
As a result of the accident, the high-speed rail connection between Madrid and Andalusia has been suspended, while services on the Seville–Madrid line are returning to their starting point. In contrast, commercial services between Madrid, Toledo, Ciudad Real, and Puertollano continue to operate normally. The regional government of Andalusia announced the activation of the emergency phase of the Civil Protection Plan, while railway network crews, rescuers, and medical personnel are operating in the area. A first aid center has been set up in the municipality of Adamuz, where those affected are being transported and supported. The state railway company Renfe announced that psychological support teams and information points for the victims and their families have been deployed.
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